New Delhi: Amid the ongoing protest by wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday came out in open support of the wrestlers.
Several wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik have resumed their protest at Jantar Mantar here on Sunday against Singh accusing him of sexual harassment.
“The women players are sitting on the road next to the Parliament with tears in their eyes. No one is listening to their complaint against harrasment that has been going on for a long time,” Vadra wrote in a tweet in Hindi referring to the wrestlers protest in the national capital.
Attacking the BJP-led government at the Centre, the Congress leader said, “The wrestlers believed when the government told them that there would be an inquiry. But, there was no investigation.”
“Does the government want to save the culprits ?,” she asked.
Vadra further said, “Whose pressure is on the Delhi Police? Why are the leaders of the Opposition being questioned by the same police on hearing the pain of a girl during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, but the pleas of the sportspersons who raise the country’s honour are ignored”
On January 19 this year, Vadra had said that
the allegations made by wrestlers should be investigated and appropriate action must be taken after the wrestlers took to the street over the same.
Later, the Sports Ministry formed an Oversight Committee to enquire into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and/intimidation, financial irregularities and administrative lapses, levelled by prominent sportspersons.
The Ministry instructed the executive committee of WFI to abstain from managing the day-to-day activities of the federation during the course of the enquiry.
Observing that there are serious allegations against WFI president in the petition filed by wrestlers, and assuring the sportspersons of a hearing, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Delhi Police.
A petition was filed by seven wrestlers in Apex Court seeking registration of a FIR against the WFI chief accusing him of sexually harassing women wrestlers including a minor who have represented India in world sporting events.
